Steam iron with a filling valve arrangement



Dec. 31, 1957 H. H. scHoTT ETAL 2,87992 STEAM IRON WITH A FILLING VALVE ARRANGEMENT Filed May 1'?, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1957 H. H. scHoTT ETAL STEAM IRON WITH A FILLING VALVE ARRANGEMENT Filed May 17, 1954 MM. M Kmh 4 ,partfofl the user. that the 'if-011 may be side rested `without loss of liquid,

."STEAM'IRON WITHl A FILLING *VALVE ARRANGEMENI` .HowardH. Schott,-,St..Paulp, .and EarlvfR. Burmeister, Min- ,.neilPOlis, Minn., assiguors .to GeneralMiils, luc., acorporation o'fDelaware 'aApplicationMay17,` 1954,- ,'SerialNoMStlJ-Al f 16Claims. (Cl. 3S-'177) This linvention relates generally, ,to steam irons. :of the domestic .varietyaud pertains. moreespecially to a ,par- Y `.,tcular valve .arrangement therefor.

.Que `object fofzthe. invention is toprovidea.steaminon which .can vbe readily lledyetwhich .will-.not-iuadver- .freddy loseits .liquid .contents by Ieasouof excessive tilt- .ingof the iron .or .through surging .of .the confined liquid `,duringa pressing operation. More .specicallythe invenv.tion contemplates the use of ,a special.valveallangement which will y.close .off .an ,-avenueof escape throughthe l '.,filling opening, such y action tak-ing yplaceautomatically whenthe 4need Aarises without attention `oreort 0n the AIn lthis connection, vit is .contemplated such Vspecial tilting of the iron being entirely within 'the province of'the invention. Also the valve .arrangement y,permits the nose of the iron to 'be tilted downwardly without such loss occurring as frequently would otherwise ',"happen in performing certainmotions preliminary'to tironing.

.ln accordance with the foregoing object, an aim off'the "girrverition, also residesV in the. provision ofy structure by l `.which the valve .mechanism may be intentionally/gren- `deretl ineffectual, such structureA being y:instrumental f in retaining the valveopen so that Lfacile emptying of the contents maybe accomplished whenever desired. 1

vAgfurther object of the invention -is -to yachieve the *above "cl'esiderata 'without detracting from the fouter general appearance lof the iron and also without-noticeably f' increasing the'over-all weight of the iron. Still `further, thefaimsof the invention; are realized in an inexpensive a manner -thus Lpresent-ing a steam iron lthat mayibe manu- -`fact-uredfat relatively low cost.

LOther objects will be in part obvious andinfpartyponted 'out-more :in detail hereinafter.

I The invention accordingly consists -i-n the featuresof f Figure l is a side View, largely .in section, .showing a :basic embodiment :which the invention may assume;

Figure 2 is a 'sectional 'view takenin the'directionof l lline 'Z4-2 `of 'Figure l.

Figure 3 'isy avfragmentary .sectional view showing the `tuose of ythe steam .iron4 tilted downwardly with a con .comitant closing of fthe flap lvalve-sassociatedfvvlitlr'the ,:lfli-ng means.

Eigure 4 risfa rear view of the :iron finfaside rested vposi- ',ftion, :a portion of the` casing l:being removed topic'ture more clearly the operation `of .the Hap valvewhen the ,iron ,is so positioned.

Eigure 5 is .a fragmentary, side view with certainouter lpnrtions removed to show .a modified-version tot.- the yinvention.

Figure .6' is 'an enlarged sectional view taken .in 'they "direction of line 6-6 of Figure 5.

2,317 ,Q ",'Patented .Dec. 31, @19,57

-Figure 7 -is aviewcorrespondingto Figure 3 but showing the modification pictured in Figure 5 with the parts ythereof positionedso as to permit emptying .of .the vsteam iron.

Figure ,S'fis a ,stillfurther embodiment which the invention rmay italie, v'this view corresponding .to vthat .of Figure.5, and

.Eigure. 9 .isa V.view `similar ,to Eigurei but withl the partsinadifierentposition.

Referring nowV tothe drawings, particularly ,Figures l-4 ,.tltereof,tit-willbe :observed .that vthe steam `iron .selected for Athe `purpose of excrnplifying the L`invention .comprises ...asoleplate 10 havingternbedded therein a sheathedheating elementll. .,he heating velement ,121s in circuit with .aithermostat 14. which ,is .adjusted by means .of van. .up- .stand-in-g shaftl6 carryingat its upper end .ainanipulati-ng .gleuob .18. .The soleplatelti is also ,providedy with a cup- .steam from the water directed thereto. generated is causedtocourse through a plurality rvof downwardly extending passages22 leading to .the ,pressing tace of the iron.

.shaped zonell. whichserves ,as the rmeans for generating The ,steam thus Surmountingpihe soleplatel-O yis a reservoir 424 which includes a bottom 26 and an upper shell lportion Z55-form- 'ing the top- 3,0Y andthe sides 32 of the reservoir. In order to, coniinethesteam that has been generated -in the zone .2.0 to 4the fforward portion of ,the viron a downwardly de- YApending .baille `34 .may 'be employed. As shown, this hale-34 vabutsthe upper side of a gasket ,36 .and in .this

.way two compartments ..38 and 40 are formed, .thejlatter compartment containing Vthe thermostat .14.

y Secured -in ,anysuitable manner to V the reservoir 24 vfis a handle .42. [The upper `portion of the handle`J is recessed at 44 and press .fitted into the recess au internally threaded sleeve 46. Extending downwardlythrough thefhandlefis Aa valve stem 48. having an Vupper,threaded y portion S0 received inthe sleeve. 46. At the topof ,the

2construction, combinationof elements and f- Iarra-rrgernent .50

`otparts 'which will be exempliliedvin ytheconstruction *"hereavfter 'set forth and fthe scope of the application-of which will Ibe indicated in the :appended claims.

valve stem is amanipulated knob 52 by which the valve .stem may be rotated. An intermediate yportion ofthe .valve `stempas'ses,through the topy 30 of the, reservo'irk24,

,'therebeing Vprovided/a gasket or `,grommet 54 to effect (the requisitesealing action. The lower end of the valve stem is conligured so as to form a valve head 56. The

valve nhead "56, cooperates r with .a va'lve seat 58 located '1njthe1bottom-26 of the reservoir. The seat 58 `is centraflly apertured at 60 .so that when thevalve stem is rotated in a direction to raise the valve head, then liquid contained in gthe reservoir 24 will ow gravitationally ydownwardly into the cup-shaped steam generating zonejZ where the waterwill be convertedinto steam whichV then passes throughjthe passages 22 via .the compartment 38.

Up .to .this point the described structure is morek or less of .a conventional nature and has been selected onlyY to ,set the environmental backgroundfor the subject matter .now to be referred 5to, which subject matter collectively is believed 'to be entirely novel. Accordingly, it wi-llbe noted that a vertically disposed lling `tube 6'2 extends upwardly from .the interior of the. reservoir through .the

" handleLtlZ. At .the lower end of the filling tube .there is a compartment'll'formed vby a bottom wall 66 and a rear Vwall 68.these wallsy being suitably connected tothe inner .surface .ofthe shellportion 28 as by braz'ing. `The rear .68 is, composedlof. t-wo sections, an upper vertical section 70,:anda lower forwardly inclined section 72. :The

upper section contains a relatively small aperture'174 whiehunctions as a vent -which will -hereinafterbe more uflrly reierred to.. Theflower section, however, is provided :with a relatively large :aperture 7.6 through .which the liquid @introduced by wayof the filling :tube 62 must ow `in reach- 70L ing Lthefrnaijorinterior portion of the reservoir.

f lIn order to preclude the escapeot liquid 'from the-1re ervoir 24 through the filling tube 62 via the aperture 76 when the forward end of the iron is tilted sufficiently downwardly, or when the iron is moved to a side rest position or when the iron is moved back and forth during a pressing operation, which last movement will cause surging of the liquid contents in such a manner that they might splash out through the filling tube 62. A flap valve 78 is employed which will automatically cover the aperture 76 on the above described occasions. The fiap valve ispivotally mounted to the upper section 70 of the rear wall by means of a pair of rearwardly directed ears 80 secured to said rear wall. The ears serve as bearings for a laterally extending pin 82 which has encircled thereabout portions 83 of the iiap valve 78. Only the lower portion, that is that portion below the pin 82, is intended to cover the aperture 76. The upper portion of the fiap valve is in the form of an upwardly directed tongue designated by the numeral 84. This tongue 84 performs an important role in preventing the tiap valve from passing beyond a point displaced from the aperture 76 which could cause the fiap valve to rotate through approximately 180 when the iron is moved onto either of its sides, thus preventing the flap valve from performing its function when the iron is so rested. With the tongue 84, however, as can probably be best understood from an inspection of Figure 4, the flap valve 78 is constrained so that it will bear against the inclined lower section when the iron is side rested just as it does when the nose of the iron is tilted downwardly as pictured in Figure 3.

Since it is contemplated that the iron will be moved into a side rest position, a pair of laterally extending projections 86 are attached to the shell 28 and these projections serve in conjunction with the handle 42 to maintain the soleplate in a raised position from the surface upon which the iron is side rested.

From the foregoing description it is felt that the operation of our steam iron will be perfectly apparent. When the reservoir 24 is in need of liquid, such liquid is poured through the filling tube 62 and the liquid flows by gravity from the compartment 64 through the aperture 76 into the main portion of the reservoir. The aperture or vent 74 permits the reservoir to be filled almost completely since the air that would be otherwise entrapped in the upper region of the reservoir is permitted to escape until the level of the liquid reaches the lower end of the filling tube 62. Once the reservoir has been filled, the iron is in condition for a pressing operation when the soleplate has been heated sufiiciently to generate the necessary steam. As is customary during an ironing operation, the iron is moved rather rapidly in a back and forward direction with a consequent result that the liquid confined in the reservoir is splashed or sloshed about. However, the pendulum-like manner in which the fiap valve 78 is supported results in the valve covering the aperture 76 whenever the liquid tends to escape outwardly through this aperture. By reason of this arrangement, no liquid is permitted to pass out through the filling tube 62. Should the iron be tilted with its nose downwardly as depicted in Figure 3, here again the liquid will not escape from the reservoir since the weight of the lower part of the iiap valve together with the liquid in the reservoir will cause the valve to cover the aperture 76 and thus close any possible avenue of egress out through the filling tube. As already indicated, the fiap valve is mounted so that when the iron is moved onto either of its sides as illustrated in Figure 4, the fiap valve will come up against the lower section of the rear wall which contains the aperture 76, thus in this instance closing oli any possible escape of liquid via the filling tube.

Since the invention has made use of a gravity-actuated ap valve 78 a problem exists owing to the fact that at times it is desirable, if not necessary, to remove completely the liquid confined in the reservoir 24. In Figures 5, 6, and 7 specic structure has been provided for assuring, when propertly manipulated, that the flap valve will be retained in an open position to permit the emptying of the reservoir. To this end it is envisaged that a closure member 88 be made slidable with respect to the upper end of a somewhat modified filling tube 90. The closure member 88 is rendered slidable by making the closure member arcuate when viewed in cross section as plainly shown in Figure 6, the closure member being equipped with inturned tianges 92 which are slidably received in a pair of grooves 94 disposed in opposite sides of the handle 42.

Attached in a fixed manner at its upper end, such as by a screw 96, is a leaf spring 98 having an L-shaped configuration. The L-shaped configuration results in the provision of a relatively long leg 100 and a relatively short leg 102 bent at substantially right angles thereto. The relatively long leg 100 is bowed intermediate its ends at 104. By so configuring the spring 98 an actuating element 106 fixed to the closure member 88, such as by a rivet 108, will be instrumental in riding against the bowed portion 104 thus urging the leaf spring in a direction which results in the free end of the relatively short leg engaging the fiap valve 78 to retain the fiap valve in a displaced relation with respect to the aperture 76.

Therefore, whenever the closure member 88 is slidably moved upwardly for either the reception or emptying of liquid, the actuating element 106 will urge the leaf spring 98 in such a direction that the relatively short leg 102 will abut the fiap valve and hold the valve open so that any liquid contained in the reservoir can be poured out through the filling tube 90 via the aperture 76, as clearly evidenced from the position of the parts depicted in Figure 7. However, when the closure member 88 is in a closed position such as that shown in Figure 5, the flap valve 78 is perfectly free to close automatically to prevent any inadvertent escape of liquid. Thus it will be apparent that the arrangement described results in assurance that liquid will not escape from the reservoir when it is not intended to do so.

Passing now to a description of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, it will be observed that a still different type of filling tube is utilized, this particular filling tube being designated by the numeral 110. Instead of the slidable closure member 88 there is provided a pivotal closure member 112 made so by reason of a pivot pin 114. Connected to the pivotal closure member 112 by another pin 116 is a rod 118 which extends downwardly through the filling tube passing out the other side thereof by way of an aperture 120. The aperture is so disposed that the free end of the rod 118 is in registry with the aperture 76 so that when the pivotal closure member 112 is moved from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to that shown in Figure 9, the free end of the rod will abut against the flap valve 78 to assure its retention in a displaced relation with respect to the aperture 76. Stated otherwise, the rod 118 is connected to the pivotal closure member in an articulative manner so that the closure member provides a crank or lever action whenever it is moved from a closed position to an open position, which movement causes the valve to be kept open so that liquid within the reservoir 24 may be poured out through the filling tube 110.

As in the more basic embodiment picture in Figures 1-4, the ap valve in the two embodiments of Figures 5-9 still includes the upwardly extending tongue 84 and this tongue functions in the same manner as in the earliest described embodiment to prevent excessive rotation of the tiap valve which otherwise might result in the ap moving so far as to not cover the aperture 76 when the iron is placed in a side rest position.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying t .e drawings shall be interpreted as'illustrative'.andrnotn a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that 'the language use'd in 'the following claims is intended to .cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein .described steam generating means, a l-filling tube extending through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward end of .the iron providing an opening through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, a compartment within the .confines of the reservoir disposed adjacent the lower end of said filling tube including a bottom and a rear wall, said rear wall having an upper vertical section and 'a lower forwardly inclining section, the latter section having an laperture providing communication between .said compartment and the interior of said reservoir, and

a `flap valve hingedly connected intermediate its ends to the upper section of said rear wall adjacent the lower end thereof so that the lower portion thereof -is constrained to cover said aperture l(said lower portion being of greater dimensions than said aperture) when the forward end a yof the iron is tilted sufficiently downward and the upper end thereof is constrained to abut the vertical section of said rear wall to prevent excessive departure of the lower valve portion from said lower rear wall Asection while the iron is being maneuvered into a side rest position.

2. A steam iron in accordance with claim 1 in which there is a smaller aperture disposed in the upper section of said rear wall for venting the reservoir to permit filling thereof to a level above said first named aperture.

3. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having stream .discharging means leading to its pressing face and a steam generating boiler in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the solepate having communication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating boiler and provided with filling opening means disposed in an upper portion lthereof through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, said filling means including a pivotally mounted yap valve disposed within said reservoir and arranged to close automatically said opening, a manually operable closure member for said opening located externally of said reservoir; and means interengageable with said closure member and said flap valve for retaining said flap valve in an open position when said closure member is in an open position.

4. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having steam discharging means leading to its pressing face and steam generating means in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate having com` munication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating means, filling means including a tube extending through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward end of the iron through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, said filling means having ra lower opening through which the liquid may be dis- ."liquidmay be introduced to the reservoir, .a slidable closure member for closing the upper end of said filling tube, a pivotally mounted flap lvalve arranged to move in a .pendulum fashion near the lower end of the filling tube, vseat means having an aperture therethrough which is covered by said flap valve when theforward end [of the `steam ,iron is tilted downwardly suliicientlyifrom ahori- .zontal position, thereby preventing undesired .escape l.of vliquid via said `filling tube, and camV meansoper'able by .said Yclosure member when moved -to .open vposition Vto .enga-ge said flap valve to retainsaid valve ,in an unseated position with respect -to said seat means.

.6. A steam iron in accordance with claim 5.,in which `said cam means .includes a leaf spring fixedly anchored at its upper end with its lower end engageable withsaid viiap valve, and .an actuating ,element .carried byl said closure member .for riding against a portion ofsaid leaf vspring to urge saidspring .against said ap valve .to pro- .duce said :retention lof .said valve in .an unseatedposition Yvwith respect to said. .seat means whensaid closure, member-is moved tto. open position. f.

7. A steamiron comprising a soleplatehaving. steam discharging means leading to its pressing face andl steam .generating means in heat receiving relation .with its other .-face,-a .reservoir surmounting the .soleplate having .comanunication through-.a lower portion thereoffwith...said steam generating means, aflling'tube .extending-through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward endof the iron providing an opening through which liquid may ybe introduced to the'reservoir, a slidable closure member for closing the upper end of said `filling tube, va .com-

part-ment `within the confines :of .the reservoir'` disposed adjacent `the lower end of said filling tube .including a bottom and a` rear wall, said rear wall .having an upper vertical section anda lower forwardly inclining section, Ythe latter section having an aperture providing .communication between said compartment andthe interior of. said reservoir, and a flap valve hingedly connected intermediate 'its ends `to the upper section of said rear wall so that the lower portion thereof .is constrained to cover. said yaperture when the forward end of -theiron .is tilted suiiirciently downward and the `upper end thereof is constrained to abut the vertical section ofsaid rear wall to prevent excessive departure of the lower valveportion from said lower rear wall section while the iron .is .being maneuvered into aside rest position, a substantially .L- shaped spring including a relatively long leg having a bowed intermediate portion and a Arelatively short .lower leg, the upper end of said :relatively long leg being fixedly anchored adjacent the upper end `of said filling tube and Vsaid relatively short leg being disposed for movement through said aperture in the rear Wall, and an actuating f yelement carried by `said closure member for riding against the bowed portion of said spring to `cam said spring in a direction to cause engagement of the relatively short leg thereof with said Hap valve to retain saidfap'valve displaced from said rear wall aperturefeven-when the-.forward end of the iron is tilted downward.

8. A steam iron in accordance with claim 7 in which the upper end of said ap valve is constrained to abut the vertical section of said rear wall to prevent excessive departure of the lower valve portion from said lower rear wall section while the iron is being maneuvered into a side rest poistion.

9. A steam iron in accordance with claim 8 in which means is provided extending through said filling tube and engageable through said aperture with the ap valve for intentionally retaining said valve at times in a spaced relation with said aperture.

10. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having steam discharging means leading to its pressing face and steam generating means in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate having communication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating means, a filling tube extending through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward end of the iron providing an opening through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, a pivotal closure member for closing the upper end of said filling tube, a pivotally mounted flap valve arranged to move in a pendulum fashion near the lower end of the filling tube, seat means having an aperture therethrough which is covered by said iiap valve when the forward end of the steam iron is tilted downwardly sufiiciently from a horizontal position, thereby preventing undesired escape of liquid via said filling tube, and an elongated member pivotally connected to said closure member and operable thereby when moved to open position to engage said fiap valve to retain said valve in an unseated position with respect to said seat means.

1l. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having steam discharging means leading to its pressing face and steam generating means in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate having communication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating means, a filling tube extending through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward end of the iron providing an opening through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, a pivotal closure member for closing the upper end of said filling tube, a compartment within the confines of the reservoir disposed adjacent the lower end of said filling tube including a bottom and a rear wall, said rear wall having an upper vertical section and a lower forwardly inclining section, the latter section having an aperture providing communication between said compartment and the interior of said reservoir, and a ap valve hingedly connected intermediate its ends to the upper section of said rear wall so that the lower portion thereof is constrained to cover said aperture when the forward end of the iron is tilted sufficiently downward and the upper end thereof is constrained to abut the vertical section of said rear wall to prevent excessive departure of the lower valve portion from said lower rear wall section while the iron is being maneuvered into a side rest position, an elongated rod having its upper end pivotally connected to said closure member at a locus offset from the locus about which said closure member pivots, said filling tube having an aperture near its lower end through which said rod extends for supporting the lower end of the rod so that it will move through said rear wall aperture when the closure member is pivoted to open position to engage and displace the flap valve from said rear wall aperture even when the forward end of the iron is tilted downward.

l2. A steam iron in accordance with claim 11 in which the upper end of said flap valve is constrained to abut the vertical section of said rear wall to prevent excessive departure of the lower valve portion from said lower rear wall section while the iron is being maneuvered into a side rest position.

13. A steam iron in accordance with claim 12 in which means is provided extending through said filling tube and engageable through said aperture with the fiap valve for intentionally retaining said valve at times in a spaced relation with said aperture.

14. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having steam discharging means leading to its pressing face and steam generating means in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate having communication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating boiler and provided with filling opening means disposed in an upper portion thereof through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, said opening means including a pivotally mounted ap valve disposed within said reservoir and arranged to close automatically said opening means to prevent reverse fiow of liquid via said filling opening means, and means for preventing movement of said fiap valve past a predetermined open position so that said flap Valve will always close when the steam iron is placed in a side rest position.

15. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having steam discharging means leading to its pressing face and steam generating means in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate having communication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating boiler, filling means including a tube extending through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward end of the iron through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, said filling means having a lower opening through which the liquid may be discharged `directly into the reservoir from said tube, means including a pivotally mounted fiap valve arranged to engage said filling means adjacent said lower opening of the filling means when the forward end of the steam iron is tilted downwardly sufficiently from a horizontal position, thereby preventing undesired escape of liquid via said filling means, and a manipulating means extend ing from the interior of said reservoir to the exterior thereof for intentionally retaining said flap valve at all times in an open position.

16. A steam iron comprising a soleplate having steam discharging means leading to its pressing face and steam generating means in heat receiving relation with its other face, a reservoir surmounting the soleplate having com munication through a lower portion thereof with said steam generating boiler and a filling tube extending through the upper side of said reservoir near the forward end of the iron through which liquid may be introduced to the reservoir, wall means adjacent the lower end of the filling tube forming a compartment, said wall means having an aperture through which the liquid must pass on its way to the interior of the reservoir, means including a pivotally mounted fiap valve of sufiicient dimensions arranged to engage said wall means and to cover said aperture automatically when the forward end of the steam iron is tilted downwardly sufficiently from a horizontal position, thereby preventing undesired escape of liquid via said aperture, compartment and filling tube, and means extending through said filling tube and engageable through said aperture with the fiap valve for intentionally retaining said valve at all times in a spaced relation of said aperture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,190,904 Wiggins Feb. 20, 1940 2,384,839 Kistner Sept. 18, 1945 2,662,316 Johnson Dec. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 369,269 Canada Oct. l2, 1937 

